To further push the pedals towards an active lifestyle, as well as support a growing trend of ageless, health-conscious Filipinos, Vermosa—Ayala Land’s 700-hectare master-planned, mix-use estate development in Cavite—formally launched the Vermosa Bike Skills Park last May 28, along with rolling out the Bike Night Carnival, the first of its activities slated for the year.
The Bike Night Carnival took place in the country’s only premier, purpose-built mountain bike skills park inside the Vermosa which is located along Daang Hari road—one of South Luzon’s hottest cycling spots. The unique spectacle featured the first-ever night events for cycling—the night cross-country mountain bike race and the pump track challenge.
The Carnival gathered cycling and biking enthusiasts from Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and as far as Visayas and Mindanao. Also in attendance was professional cyclist, track builder, and Fox Athlete, Parabanne “Bans” Mendoza—who operated the skills tracks and shared his knowledge of the sport to the participants.
“I hope to encourage people towards an active lifestyle through biking. I have taken what I learned from training and competing abroad to design the Vermosa Bike Skills Park so more Filipinos can hone their skills and become world-class riders as well,” said Bans.
The Bike Night Carnival started with the Toddy Kid’s Bike Race where participants eagerly tested the trail while showcasing their skills. Vermosa also brought in world-class professional riders Sam Flanagan and Ali Parkin of TRIPPIN’ FELLAZ (Hope Technology Riders) and renowned Fox Athlete Josh Lewis to share their signature moves and tricks with local riders in a one-of-a-kind bike clinic.
As dusk fell, the first XDS Night Cross-Country Short Circuit Race got underway with contenders out-pedaling each other in the Men’s Age Group, Men’s Elite, and Women’s Friendship Race divisions. Mellisa Jaroda of Team Ground Zero topped the women’s race while Alvin Benosa and Julius Ahleem Zape —both from BMC Philippines MTB Racing Team—bagged first place finishes in the Men’s Elite and Men’s Age Group, respectively.
Team Ground Zero’s Niño Martin Eday won in the Lapierre Night Pump Track Challenge elite division to go on an all-expenses-paid trip to Singapore to represent the country in the Red Bull Dark Knights nighttime urban downhill biking competition.
Top winners in the Night Pump Track challenge in the novice category took home a Lapierre bike, while a GT bike was raffled off to a lucky event participant. Other race winners also received Fox gear and apparel.
The Bike Night Carnival was sponsored by Ayala Land, Ayala Land Premier, The Courtyards, Fox Head Philippines, Lapierre, GT Bikes, Chaoyang Tires, Red Bull, Cherry Mobile, Commencal, Hope Technology, KTM, Green Planet, Joe’s Brew, Dan’s Bike Shop, Gran Trail Cycles, Niner, Bike Town Cyclery, DVO Suspension, Toddy Kids Bicycles, Spyder, and Sandugo.
“We will work together with Vermosa to provide the best quality biking and cycling activities and competitions,” said Mendoza. Among the activities to watch out for are exciting biking clinics from June to December.
With its bike skills park and other amenities, discover and push the pedals towards living the healthier and active lifestyle that you’ve always wanted in Vermosa, Ayala Land’s newest master-planned estate and the premier destination for “new age” sports. To stay updated on further events and more cycling activities and biking clinics, visit Vermosa Estate’s official Facebook page @Vermosaph or log on to www.vermosa.ph.
In photo above: Professional bikers (L-R): Josh Lewis, Sam Flanagan, and Ali Parkin shared tips and tricks to other biking enthusiasts at the Vermosa Bike Night Carnival.
